Blog Archives

Yesterday was a windy day, but wanted to go out and do some filming. I headed down to Algonac State Park and parked by the river looking for Bald Eagles. I filmed one thinking it was a hawk when I first got there then that was it for while. I was going to head down the river more to check out other spots, so I packed up and got in my truck. Once I sat in the truck I glanced out to the river, and two bald eagles sit on the ice river. I rush grabbing my camera, no time to set up my tripod, and I got some of the worst shots ever doing handheld with my 18-200mm set at 200mm and the wind blowing. Though, I was still excited because after 2 years of searching for them, I finally saw them and captured them on my camera.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKtIyQGzvkE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I think it is going to be hard trying to raise money for a Documentary Film about Michigan because it could be limited to just Michigan residents, but I hope people who enjoy nature film may find some qualities of the film, and others who may just want to learn more about Michigan’s nature.

There are perks available if your interested in helping making this happen. There are “Producer Packages” available, and hope to add the film to imdb if I am able to, so if that happens I will be adding the producers names on there as well. Everyone who donates will get a thank you credit in the credits of the film. Also, posters, and stickers are available, and possibly shirts later on down the line. If I add shirts whoever donated previously to that perk will get one no matter if you donated before hand.

I went on fiverr to see if I can get someone to design my cover for my documentary film “Finding Michigan” and it came out pretty good. It is definitely better then what I had. I do wish the text was done a little better, or maybe added a drop shadow to it, but other than that it came out pretty sweet.

I knew I wanted to incorporate the Northern Lights, and a Bald Eagle if he could do it in a way that would look good, and love how he added the silhouette of the bird so it didn’t stand out to much. I wanted the cover to show a bit what the film is about. I guess I could just say its a nature film since being outside is being out in the nature, but my mind keeps wanting to say its more than that.

I recently launched my crowd funding site on my web page, and if your interested in helping by sharing, or choosing a package I would appreciate all the help. I also have some videos on there, and just added a recent video I made called “Slow Birds,” so please go check it out. http://www.kylecoggins.com

Finding Michigan is a Documentary Film that has been in pre-production for a while now, and am looking to start crowd funding for in January 2014. I created a page on Facebook called Finding Michigan where you can learn more about it. Though there isn’t much there yet, I am just looking to get people interested in it.

Its been rough trying to get this project going specially when I am working on starting production for my final project for school. I want to put full effort into making my Documentary, but school should come first. I must do both to be happy.

Since are trip wasn’t as successful as we hoped it would be, we still managed to get some photos, and some video. I have not had time to edit any of my video yet I figured I share the photos I took with my phone. I got some decent photo with my Galaxy S3.

Whether you Give a child colored pencils, crayons, or paint. Whether they hold a pencil properly between their two fingers, or clenched in a fist. Whether they draw one colored scribbles, or shatter the tip my pressing to hard. What we see is young talent, but what they see is the world they have yet become to know.

Last weekend I decided I wanted to move forward with making a film about Michigan’s wildlife, nature, and things not everyone can see everywhere.

Michigan holds some of the greatest places for sightseeing to wildlife viewing. Bald Eagles, Cougars, and even Wolves have been rising in sightings, and soaring of the endangered list. Though some may be impossible to find specially cougars, and wolves, but they are still here. Some of you may know that I have been searching for Bald Eagles for a while now, and have not been so lucky; though I feel my time is comming, and I am more confident then ever.

Just last month there was a Bald Eagle in St. Clair, Michigan. The women who spotted it took some good pictures of it as well, and it gave me this urge to push forward with this film.

What got me started!

Last January I was at work fueling trucks, and it was around two in the morning when I saw what looked to be a Cougar walking along the railroad tracks. Crazy sounding I know, specially being in a Marysville Michigan with lots of housing and a golf course close by. The body, and mostly the long tail was unmistakable. It was only a month after I saw this sighting there were a few sightings in Ann Arbor Michigan right by the University of Michigan. Also, there were a few other sighting claimed after that which made me wonder if it was the same Cougar. After that, I became addicted and wanted to see one for myself. This stuff has really interested me, and nature was really what I started out wanting to do in filmmaking.

I remeber what film I watched that got me into filming too, and for the record I was probably 5 or 6 years old, but it was “Wild America” with Johnathan Taylor Thomas. Haha. I admit that because I was young, but that movie inspired me to want to film wildlife. It does freak me out s little because you never know what could happen, but I have been trying to learn about these animals, so I know what to do if I get myself intoca bad situation.

I have a few projects I have been trying to kick into gear like my Online Film Festival I want to start, but I just don’t have enough people interested in it yet, and don’t want to job in it to soon. I have a short film project I’m working on for school but that is still in development right now, and Finding Michigan I am going to start at the end of October when I go to Mackinac City Michigan. Hopefully, I’ll get some Eagle footage, and some great time-lapse of the milky way. Most of the budget will be out of pocket, but I am thinking of trying to raise money through crowdfunding, and offering perks for others who may want to join me in the filmmaking process. I am still working on different ideas for perks, and how to get people interested specially those who don’t live in Michigan.

I know getting into any industry is hard, and that’s why I want to reach out, and help people who just want to have a reason to film. I love just to have a reason to turn on my camera and start filming, and if life wasn’t all about money then I would have no problem working for free. Unfortunately, we live in a world where money is the way of survival, and life. I will update soon on my progress. Thanks for all the support.

Many have asked, will there be another Matrix film? Actually, I been waiting for this answer myself, and there have been false information on it happening for a long time. Rumors say that the Wachowski Brothers went to talk to James Cameron to learn about 3-D. Who knows if that is true, or not but that’s what you’ll find online. It is most likely false since we would have atleast heard of a part 4 instead of a double feature again.

I have read tons of comments about two more installments good, bad, and in between; furthermore, I respect everyone’s comments so I only give my opinion on this film. I must say though that I am a huge fan of the film, and possibly one of the biggest.

First off, I want to start at why it could happen. Why there could be a 4th Matrix film. The Wachowski Brothers amazing screenwriters, and Directors. They did “Cloud Atlas,” and there working on that other film Jupiter Decending I think it’s called. I personally liked Cloud Atlas, and thought it was going to kill at the box office, but it got killed, specially for what it cost to make the film. Now, I’m not sure why it did so bad, and I know many would argue with me about it, but the film should of been bigger then it was. It amazes me how a movie so unique, and different that has a great story could do wrong. I mean Tom Hanks said fuck in the movie! I have never heard him say that word in any movie, haha.

I am curious to see how well their next film does, specially since it sounds like it will be a brain teaser like all their films. To bring my point across, I think if the film does bad maybe they will go back to the Matrix since they know there will be a following.

The comments about another Matrix film were both good and bad. Some loved the film, but didn’t want to see a new one be made. Then you have the people who say flat out that it can’t happen because Neo died, and the war was over. I hate that reply, because war is never ending not in real life, or movies. A long time ago, I would argue saying, how do you know Neo died? It wasn’t until I got into screenwriting till I answered my own question. What better way to learn screenwriting then to read scripts. I read the ending of the Matrix, and clearly it say’s Neo Dies!

If you don’t read screenplays I would atleast recommend reading the first 10 pages of the first Matrix. The writing is so amazing and artistic it truely shows the talent the Wachowski Brothers have, and I’m not a huge reader, but the script is damn close to being as good as the film.

If I were to give an idea to how the Matrix could continue, it would be this: Neo dies in the Machine World, but they bring him back by growing him using his cells, or straight up turn him into a machine. They could either erase his memory, or Neo bring Trinity back as a machine too. Also, at the end of the trilogy the Oracle tells that little girl that she suspects will see Neo again someday. So, what if the machines just give him life again, simple as that. There can always be another Agent Smith, right? I know the story can come back to life it just has to be in a way that will be over the top, and groundbreaking. The Wackowski Brothers have the skills to do that, and they proved it with the first Matrix that was done in 1999. You still can’t find a film that matches to that caliber of filmmaking.